Lautenberg aide calls Cory Booker 'self-absorbed...shameful' as he officially files to run for U.S. Senate in 2014

Newark Mayor Cory Booker formally threw his hat in the ring and has formalized his run for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

The rising Democratic star filed election papers this week with the Federal Election Commission to form his official campaign committee, registered on Tuesday under the name 'Cory Booker for Senate.'

But the move has angered supporters of longtime Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) who are calling out the brash Booker for seeking to oust the 88-year-old incumbent before he has announced any intent to step down from the seat.

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It's on: Newark Mayor Cory Booker, left, has formalized his run for the seat held by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), right. Sen. Lautenberg has not expressed any intention of stepping down

Official: The Newark mayor filed papers with the FEC on Tuesday to formalize his campaign for the U.S. Senate

An aide for long-serving senator said the party starlet was 'self-absorbed and disrespectful' for forcing the hand of the veteran politician and disregarding the political hierarchy in the Beltway.

Booker revealed his ambition to ascend to a role on the national political stage on Dec. 20.

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In a YouTube video he announced 'I will explore the possibility of running for The United States Senate in 2014,' ending mounting speculation that he would face off against Chris Christie in a gubernatorial race.

'As I explore a run for the United States Senate, I look forward to consulting with Senator Lautenberg. During my lifetime, he has been one of New Jersey’s most important leaders. It would be a privilege to continue his great legacy of service,' the 43-year-old said.

It's time: The 43-year-old Booker appeared on CNN this week, saying that he would give Lautenberg the space he needed to make a decision

Currently, Democrats Robert Menendez, 59, and Frank Lautenberg, 88, represent the Garden State in the U.S. Senate.

Booker's mention of Lautenberg in the video clip gave the impression that the senior senator had sanctioned Booker's bid but sources say the young politician is trying to oust the aging Congressman.

In December, an unnamed New Jersey official told BuzzFeed that the White House encouraged Booker to run for the seat to avoid an embarrassing and ugly campaign against Christie.

That same source also said that it still wasn't a done deal that Lautenberg was going to step aside and predicted 'an unpleasant episode for New Jersey' if the two faced each other in a Democratic primary.

Frenemies: Booker (with CBS presenter Gayle King, center, at the TIME 100 Gala in New York in April) said in Dec. that he would run for the Senate and not face NJ Governor Chris Christie, left, in a gubernatorial race

And that unpleasant episode has already begun to play out, as supporters of Lautenberg are said to be none too pleased by Booker's actions.

On January 7, just a day before Booker filed his paper work with the FEC, he went on CNN to discuss his political future. While he pledged his 'deep respect and love' for Lautenberg, his comments hinted at his veiled opinion that it might be Lautenberg's time to go.

He is the oldest current member of the U.S. Senate.

At the age of 88, Frank Lautenberg is the oldest current member of the U.S. Senate

'I've announced my intention to run but the reality is that we've got a good senator. He's been loyal, he's been there for a long time and I think that he's got a decision to make. So I'm focusing on my job for now ... I want to give him the space to make his own decision,' Booker said on 'Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien.'

When asked if he had conferred with the five-term senator before announcing his political plans, Booker's trademark candor didn't do him any favors.

'I hope to talk to him - we've reached out to him a number of times,' he said on the cable news show.

'In fact, I had a plane trip going down to meet with him and unfortunately, with a lot of the challenges going down in Washington, he had to cancel the meeting.'

That comment reportedly angered loyal Lautenberg allies who have accused Booker, behind closed doors, of forcing the incumbent's hand and even suggesting that the current senator blew him off.

'It’s shameful that he avoided challenging a Republican just so that he can take on a long-serving, loyal Democrat,' a Lautenberg aide told Politico.

But the numbers are in favor of the enthusiastic Booker, as a recent poll has shown that New Jerseyites would support Lautenberg's retirement.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll of registered voters in New Jersey showed 42 per cent of Democrats would choose Booker as the preferred Democratic nominee for the Senate seat.

Only 20 per cent said they would like to see Lautenberg as the nominee

Meanwhile, Booker has affirmed his commitment to Newark, New Jersey's largest city, and took to Twitter to pass on a message of unity.

He tweeted to his more than one million followers, quoting Martin Luther King Jr., 'I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.'